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December 17, 2007
NIGERIAN NATIONAL ARRESTED AT HOUSTON AIRPORT FOR POSSESSION OF COCAINE CONVICTED
(HOUSTON, Texas) – A Nigerian national bound for London, England with more than seven kilograms of cocaine concealed in a toy box in his luggage has been found guilty of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute the controlled substance by a jury’s verdict following a seven day trial, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.
On Monday, Dec. 11, 2007, a federal jury returned its verdict finding Hope Ikechukwu Anele, 38, a Nigerian national with permanent residency status in the U. S., guilty of the two federal felony offenses. During trial, the jury heard testimony from agents of the Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding the events that lead to the discovery of the cocaine in a toy box in Anele’s checked luggage and Anele’s arrest at Bush Intercontinental Airport in April 2007.
On April 12, 2007, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, conducted an outbound enforcement operation and searched the checked baggage, including Anele’s, of passengers scheduled to board British Airways flight 2026 from IAH to London-Gatwick Airport in London, United Kingdom.
An examination of one of the four bags checked by Anele and bearing a tag with his name it, resulted in the discovery of a cardboard box which depicted a children’s toy, specifically a “Barbie” brand dollhouse. The CBP Officer noticed that the box seemed much heavier than normal for this type of item and opened the box. Inside the box, the CBP Officer discovered a total of eleven plastic-wrapped packages. The eleven plastic-wrapped packages contained 7.2 kilograms of cocaine.
Following the discovery, Anele was questioned by other CBP Officers as he attempted to board British Airways flight 2026 bound for London. Anele told the officers he was bound for Lagos, Nigeria, had checked four bags and produced the luggage claim tickets that matched the four bags inspected, including the one containing the toy box filled with cocaine. Anele also identified the bags by color, and said “yes” he had packed all the bags himself and took full responsibility for the contents of all four bags. Anele was taken into custody by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute the cocaine. He formally charged by indictment on May 10, 2007.
According to the record of the case, Anele has admitted to receiving the toy box from a friend and agreeing to transport the box to Nigeria, but denied knowing the box contained cocaine. However, the government presented evidence that Anele and his wife, who have very modest means, have made several round trips to Nigeria with one and two day overs in London during the last two years. Upon returning from one such trip in 2006, Anele’s wife returned to the U. S. with more than $10,000 in cash which she had failed to declare. Evidence also showed that Anele’s wife was schedule to follow Anele to London the day after his planned flight.
Anele, who has been in federal custody as a possible flight risk since his April 2007 arrest, will remain in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing set for February 28, 2008. The conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine carries a mandatory minimum punishment of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment and a $4 million fine.
This case was tried by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Eric Smith and Vernon Lewis.
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